We're not really going to have many "converts" from among the Buckeye or Wildcat faithful. They'll show up at Nippert sometimes--in full scarlet and gray or blue attire and we'll gladly take their ticket money. But if UC wants to continue growing the season ticket and single game sales it will be from the folks who already have an affinity for our school.

The good news? That target audience alone can more than fill Nippert and 5th/3rd for every home date.

We're not really going to have many "converts" from among the Buckeye or Wildcat faithful. They'll show up at Nippert sometimes--in full scarlet and gray or blue attire and we'll gladly take their ticket money. But if UC wants to continue growing the season ticket and single game sales it will be from the folks who already have an affinity for our school.

The good news? That target audience alone can more than fill Nippert and 5th/3rd for every home date.

Yep. That target audience has already sold out all the club seats in the new arena as of yesterday.

I meant to post this in this thread yesterday, but posted it in the wrong one.

I went to Nitro Circus over the weekend. It appeared that they had run off areas set up for the bikes and other toys that they brought to the show, but by the end of the show their were streaks up and down the turf from the bikes hauling ass across it. Hopefully it scrubs out. Some real defilement this time!

CINCINNATI -- FC Cincinnati officials are still having conversations with the University of Cincinnati about what improvements are needed to make Nippert Stadium ready for Major League Soccer, but the discussions apparently advanced enough to satisfy the league before awarding Cincinnati an expansion bid last month.

The club, in a series of changes already completed, spent more than $2 million to widen the field last year to meet FIFA standards, and this year FCC purchased digital sponsorship boards, which now back the eastern sideline on game days.

More significant changes are on the way for FCC's two-year extended stay at Nippert as an MLS franchise. The club will be building a soccer-specific stadium in the West End, but it is not expected to be ready until 2021, so FCC will play its first two MLS seasons at Nippert.

"We obviously have a great relationship with the University of Cincinnati, and we're going through the process of working with them now," FCC president and general manager Jeff Berding said. "Everything is going to be on our nickel, and these are improvements they can benefit from too. … In our conversations with our partners at the University of Cincinnati, the sense is the changes are changes that will be good for the University of Cincinnati."

Berding said some of the issues the club is looking at -- based on recommendations or requirements from MLS -- include new turf, changing the current players' lounge under the east side of the Bailey into a visitors' locker room, enhanced technology in the scoreboard rooms and expanding the LED sponsorship boards along the endlines.

With help from the university, FCC already rewired and moved one of its broadcast cameras down to the main concourse to meet MLS' preference for lower camera angles, and the other improvements completed the past two years were done with a move to MLS in mind.

Team owner Carl Lindner III donated money to help UC pay for a new video board, which was installed late last summer and is four times larger than the previous one, and the sound system was upgraded and a distributed antenna system put in place for better cell phone coverage around the stadium.

According to the university, in response to a public records request, there are currently no bids or RFPs for changes to the stadium or playing field and no contracts have been changed or updated in the last seven months since FCC made its pitch to the MLS expansion board back in December.

"We are excited to host FC Cincinnati as they bring Major League Soccer to Nippert Stadium," UC director of athletics Mike Bohn said. "The University has been a founding partner with the club since Day 1, and we have enjoyed being a part of their meteoric rise over the past three years.

"We are proud to have worked with FCC on a number of stadium initiatives, which has enhanced the game day experience for our collective fan base. We are early in the process of collaborating with the club on potential improvements for the 2019 season and will announce details as they are finalized and approved."

Any major changes, such as the locker room renovations (including installing showers) and new turf, would need to be done after the UC football season; however, it's a short window until the MLS season begins in March.

Berding declined to comment on the estimated cost for the improvements, but MLS commissioner Don Garber said last month that FCC promised to make significant investments into preparing the facility to MLS standards.

"They've got a stadium they're going to work with us on as part of their expansion bid -- renovations and other investments they'll make in the stadium to make it what we call MLS-ready," Garber said. "Some of that is technology-related, some of that is lighting and some of it is other investments they need to make, but it was a significant financial investment they had to make to ensure that facility will be ready for MLS next season."[/i]

Is FCC giving anyone else the "millennial in the parent's basement" feeling? Or is it just me?

At least FCC has developed a multi million dollar startup and is not just playing video games.

Yeah, I was just thinking, not many millennials are hanging out at their parents place while they build a million dollar house down the road while also building the neighbors kids a hundred thousand dollar playground at the same time.

But the boomers think they should just strap up them bootstraps and get it built yesterday.

UC Football Bearcats will wear Orange and Blue for all home games. The Cpaw will be eliminated the next two seasons for a winged lion representing St. Mark the Evangelist. The soccer ball will remain on the logo because the Big East money is now gone and new logos are expensive. In keeping with the Catholic community and the benevolent St. Mark, communion will be offered at halftime - sponsored by Klosterman bakery.

During halftime, and to be tolerant of all lifestyles, the Shriners will take their motorcycles and little cars over the jumps left behind from the Nitro Circus. Friday night games will offer Shabbat. UC staff will do their best not to mix up the ceremonial wines.

CINCINNATI -- FC Cincinnati officials are still having conversations with the University of Cincinnati about what improvements are needed to make Nippert Stadium ready for Major League Soccer, but the discussions apparently advanced enough to satisfy the league before awarding Cincinnati an expansion bid last month.

The club, in a series of changes already completed, spent more than $2 million to widen the field last year to meet FIFA standards, and this year FCC purchased digital sponsorship boards, which now back the eastern sideline on game days.

More significant changes are on the way for FCC's two-year extended stay at Nippert as an MLS franchise. The club will be building a soccer-specific stadium in the West End, but it is not expected to be ready until 2021, so FCC will play its first two MLS seasons at Nippert.

"We obviously have a great relationship with the University of Cincinnati, and we're going through the process of working with them now," FCC president and general manager Jeff Berding said. "Everything is going to be on our nickel, and these are improvements they can benefit from too. … In our conversations with our partners at the University of Cincinnati, the sense is the changes are changes that will be good for the University of Cincinnati."

Berding said some of the issues the club is looking at -- based on recommendations or requirements from MLS -- include new turf, changing the current players' lounge under the east side of the Bailey into a visitors' locker room, enhanced technology in the scoreboard rooms and expanding the LED sponsorship boards along the endlines.

With help from the university, FCC already rewired and moved one of its broadcast cameras down to the main concourse to meet MLS' preference for lower camera angles, and the other improvements completed the past two years were done with a move to MLS in mind.

Team owner Carl Lindner III donated money to help UC pay for a new video board, which was installed late last summer and is four times larger than the previous one, and the sound system was upgraded and a distributed antenna system put in place for better cell phone coverage around the stadium.

According to the university, in response to a public records request, there are currently no bids or RFPs for changes to the stadium or playing field and no contracts have been changed or updated in the last seven months since FCC made its pitch to the MLS expansion board back in December.

"We are excited to host FC Cincinnati as they bring Major League Soccer to Nippert Stadium," UC director of athletics Mike Bohn said. "The University has been a founding partner with the club since Day 1, and we have enjoyed being a part of their meteoric rise over the past three years.

"We are proud to have worked with FCC on a number of stadium initiatives, which has enhanced the game day experience for our collective fan base. We are early in the process of collaborating with the club on potential improvements for the 2019 season and will announce details as they are finalized and approved."

Any major changes, such as the locker room renovations (including installing showers) and new turf, would need to be done after the UC football season; however, it's a short window until the MLS season begins in March.

Berding declined to comment on the estimated cost for the improvements, but MLS commissioner Don Garber said last month that FCC promised to make significant investments into preparing the facility to MLS standards.

"They've got a stadium they're going to work with us on as part of their expansion bid -- renovations and other investments they'll make in the stadium to make it what we call MLS-ready," Garber said. "Some of that is technology-related, some of that is lighting and some of it is other investments they need to make, but it was a significant financial investment they had to make to ensure that facility will be ready for MLS next season."[/i]

...

That place that's the current FCC players lounge that they want to convert to a visitors locker room used to be a medical treatment room for football where the players would get IVs, initial evaluation, and minor treatment just before and during the games. Now it's locked up on our game day and full of couches for the soccer boys so our guys have to walk up and down the steps to the main training room to get treatment. Thanks FCC.

CINCINNATI -- FC Cincinnati officials are still having conversations with the University of Cincinnati about what improvements are needed to make Nippert Stadium ready for Major League Soccer, but the discussions apparently advanced enough to satisfy the league before awarding Cincinnati an expansion bid last month.

The club, in a series of changes already completed, spent more than $2 million to widen the field last year to meet FIFA standards, and this year FCC purchased digital sponsorship boards, which now back the eastern sideline on game days.

More significant changes are on the way for FCC's two-year extended stay at Nippert as an MLS franchise. The club will be building a soccer-specific stadium in the West End, but it is not expected to be ready until 2021, so FCC will play its first two MLS seasons at Nippert.

"We obviously have a great relationship with the University of Cincinnati, and we're going through the process of working with them now," FCC president and general manager Jeff Berding said. "Everything is going to be on our nickel, and these are improvements they can benefit from too. … In our conversations with our partners at the University of Cincinnati, the sense is the changes are changes that will be good for the University of Cincinnati."

Berding said some of the issues the club is looking at -- based on recommendations or requirements from MLS -- include new turf, changing the current players' lounge under the east side of the Bailey into a visitors' locker room, enhanced technology in the scoreboard rooms and expanding the LED sponsorship boards along the endlines.

With help from the university, FCC already rewired and moved one of its broadcast cameras down to the main concourse to meet MLS' preference for lower camera angles, and the other improvements completed the past two years were done with a move to MLS in mind.

Team owner Carl Lindner III donated money to help UC pay for a new video board, which was installed late last summer and is four times larger than the previous one, and the sound system was upgraded and a distributed antenna system put in place for better cell phone coverage around the stadium.

According to the university, in response to a public records request, there are currently no bids or RFPs for changes to the stadium or playing field and no contracts have been changed or updated in the last seven months since FCC made its pitch to the MLS expansion board back in December.

"We are excited to host FC Cincinnati as they bring Major League Soccer to Nippert Stadium," UC director of athletics Mike Bohn said. "The University has been a founding partner with the club since Day 1, and we have enjoyed being a part of their meteoric rise over the past three years.

"We are proud to have worked with FCC on a number of stadium initiatives, which has enhanced the game day experience for our collective fan base. We are early in the process of collaborating with the club on potential improvements for the 2019 season and will announce details as they are finalized and approved."

Any major changes, such as the locker room renovations (including installing showers) and new turf, would need to be done after the UC football season; however, it's a short window until the MLS season begins in March.

Berding declined to comment on the estimated cost for the improvements, but MLS commissioner Don Garber said last month that FCC promised to make significant investments into preparing the facility to MLS standards.

"They've got a stadium they're going to work with us on as part of their expansion bid -- renovations and other investments they'll make in the stadium to make it what we call MLS-ready," Garber said. "Some of that is technology-related, some of that is lighting and some of it is other investments they need to make, but it was a significant financial investment they had to make to ensure that facility will be ready for MLS next season."[/i]

...

That place that's the current FCC players lounge that they want to convert to a visitors locker room used to be a medical treatment room for football where the players would get IVs, initial evaluation, and minor treatment just before and during the games. Now it's locked up on our game day and full of couches for the soccer boys so our guys have to walk up and down the steps to the main training room to get treatment. Thanks FCC.

Oh horrors....they'll load them on a cart and drive them to the appropriate facility for treatment...note that PT facilities are right next to the stadium for Chrissakes--that's where I rehabbed my knee. Staffed by professionals. I also got my MRI there.